How to Select Nonferrous Metals and Alloys
Nonferrous metals and alloys are non-iron-based metals or alloys used for a wide range of applications.
Types of Metals and Alloys
The GlobalSpec SpecSearch Database contains many different types of nonferrous metals and alloys based on material type. These include precious metals, aluminum, copper, nickel, and zinc.
Precious metals and their alloys are rare metallic elements and alloys such as silver, gold, platinum, palladium, iridium,...
Learn More about Nonferrous Metals and Alloys
Q & A on Nonferrous Metals and Alloys
We asked our users for their input on Nonferrous Metals and Alloys. Here are the results of 69 users familiar with Nonferrous Metals and Alloys.
Who Took Our Poll? | Design Trends | Applications and Use | Features | Buying Advice |Design TrendsTop
What new technologies are influencing nonferrous metal and alloy design?
12 answers
* The high speed continuous casting.
* Large cross section continuous extrusion.
* Variable shape extrusion.
* Cold injection.
~Engineering, Design, Independencia, Peru
Stronger lighter needs means evaluation of composite matrix of metals.
~President, Solon, OH
Near net shape fabrication
Semisolid processing
Surface finishing
~Roberti R, Research & Development, Brescia, Italy
Application of non ferrous metal in day to day domestic life.
~Nalini Mohanty, Mecahnical engineer in Manufacutring sector ., Mumbai, India
Welding and joining dissimilar non ferrous alloys.
~Research & Development, Queretaro, Mexico
Advances in Welding equipment and processes.
~Engineering, Process/Production, Portsmouth, United Kingdom
Extrusion, new developments in casting
~General Corporate Mgmt, Rzeszow, Poland
Metal matrix composites, filters
~Satyendra Kumar A, Engineering Consultant, Vadodara, India
Heat dispersment necessities
~Dave H, Engineer, South Bend, IN
Surface modification
~Research & Development, Prague 8, Czech Republic
Self Lubricating.
~Chakradhar Kesiraju, Manufacturer, Hyderabad, India
Nano Technology
~Engineering, Consulting, Cape Town, South Africa
From your perspective, which companies are creating the most innovative nonferrous metals and alloys?
5 answers
There are numerous small and medium size companies doing excellent work but are not widely known.
~Satyendra Kumar A, Engineering Consultant, Vadodara, India
Aerospace and water displacement power plants.
~Andrew M, Engineering Consultant, Reading, England
* TUM-BMW Group.
* Niehoff-Gruppe
~Engineering, Design, Independencia, Peru
NALCO
~Nalini Mohanty, Mecahnical engineer in Manufacutring sector ., Mumbai, India
Big
~General Corporate Mgmt, Rzeszow, Poland
Applications and UseTop
What are some of the applications you have used nonferrous metals and alloys for?
21 answers
Most of the projects were designed by others. My company fabricated or repaired these alloys. Of those on which I have some information, they were used as drawing dies, bearings, military components, shafts, injection molds, ovens, platens, nuclear fusion studies, impellers, hydraulic cylinders, sleeves, mandrels, rollers.
~Quality Control/ Welding Metallurgist, Independence, MO
New patented Zn alloys for fashion accessories, handles, bathroom accessories, water taps. etc.
New treatment for Pb alloys for batteries
New treatment for various non ferrous alloys for semisolid forging or injection
~Roberti R, Research & Development, Brescia, Italy
Our sister companies extract nonferrous from Minerals, process (melting static and continuous casting), manufacture (Rod, wire, extrusion and forging process), and use as components (hardware and contact components)
~Research & Development, Queretaro, Mexico
Aluminium castings, extrusions, fabrication, commercial and aeronautical applications. e.g. Ice cream extruding machine, furniture, missile construction.
~Andrew M, Engineering Consultant, Reading, England
To fabricate:
* high current circuitry components.
* power induction furnances.
* corrosion resistant fluid systems.
* EDM components.
~Engineering, Design, Independencia, Peru
Wear Rings for Pumps
Plungers for the production of glass bottles
Hard facing applications using Stellite ( cobalt based ) Alloys
~Elliott M, Owner, Safed, Israel
Construction of Ship's Masts, repair of Non Ferrous Passenger Ferries, fabrication of pipework for various Ships systems.
~Engineering, Process/Production, Portsmouth, United Kingdom
Investigation of model catalyst systems, development of new biocompatible materials
~Research & Development, Prague 8, Czech Republic
We are using for manufacturing of automobile parts, building requirements
~Nalini Mohanty, Mecahnical engineer in Manufacutring sector ., Mumbai, India
Manufacturing metallic salts, recycling, study of applications
~President, Solon, OH
Heat sinks, Cooling fixtures, Acid tank fixtures
~Dave H, Engineer, South Bend, IN
Alloy conductors for overhead transmission lines
~Satyendra Kumar A, Engineering Consultant, Vadodara, India
Castings, enclosures for energy applications
~General Corporate Mgmt, Rzeszow, Poland
Light weight components for bicycles
~Engineering, Consulting, Cape Town, South Africa
Oil water separators and parts
~Engineer, Jenks, OK
Sheet metal work; pipelines
~Manufacturer, Medak, India
Inductors and Solar panels
~Engineering, Design, Mérignac, France
Non magnetic components
~Engineering, Process/Production, Wallingford, CT
Hardware
~Technical Support/Services, Brno, Czech Republic
Fixtures design
~Engineering, Design, Newark, CA
Machine Tools.
~Chakradhar Kesiraju, Manufacturer, Hyderabad, India
Please share with us any “non-standard” applications that nonferrous metals and alloys have been used for.
5 answers
For Residential building and automobile body building.
~Nalini Mohanty, Mecahnical engineer in Manufacutring sector ., Mumbai, India
If you are innovative nothing is non-standard.
~Satyendra Kumar A, Engineering Consultant, Vadodara, India
Ti-Nb alloy as a new implant material.
~Research & Development, Prague 8, Czech Republic
Aluminium for sea water resistance.
~Manufacturer, Medak, India
Windfarm gearbox and drive casings.
~Andrew M, Engineering Consultant, Reading, England
Do you know of any disastrous mistakes that occurred due to the incorrect usage of nonferrous metals and alloys?
5 answers
Metal fatigue on the Comet, the first commercial airliner. This was in combination with bad design regarding stress points.
~Andrew M, Engineering Consultant, Reading, England
Explosions, fires, scrap product costing far more than any savings would have achieved.
~President, Solon, OH
Poor quality and under-designed electrical appliances and switches etc.
~Satyendra Kumar A, Engineering Consultant, Vadodara, India
NASAs RLV fails due to wrong selection of alloys .
~Nalini Mohanty, Mecahnical engineer in Manufacutring sector ., Mumbai, India
Reduced wear due to not using a hard enough alloy.
~Dave H, Engineer, South Bend, IN
FeaturesTop
What would your design or feature "wish list" be for this product?
10 answers
Strength combined with forming to any shape, while being non-corrosive and inexpensive.
~Engineering, Consulting, Cape Town, South Africa
Better heat capabilities and possibly a new area in orthopedic implantation.
~Dave H, Engineer, South Bend, IN
Alloy wheels for most vehicles, magnesium alloys for electronic gadgets.
~Satyendra Kumar A, Engineering Consultant, Vadodara, India
A material that could be impervious to corrosion of any kind.
~Andrew M, Engineering Consultant, Reading, England
More porous metals versus powders.
~President, Solon, OH
Investigation on amorphous alloys.
~Roberti R, Research & Development, Brescia, Italy
Different parts for automobiles.
~Nalini Mohanty, Mecahnical engineer in Manufacutring sector ., Mumbai, India
Alluminium with 6% Mg
~Manufacturer, Medak, India
Cost Effective.
~Chakradhar Kesiraju, Manufacturer, Hyderabad, India
Proper support
~Engineering, Design, Newark, CA
Buying AdviceTop
Do you have any advice for people relative to buying or using nonferrous metals and alloys?
5 answers
Know the vertical integration from what is mined to get the metal you want to the form required to understand the market you are buying into.
~President, Solon, OH
Do not focus on a given alloy grouping before making a general survey of generic capabilities of all groupings that might apply.
~Quality Control/ Welding Metallurgist, Independence, MO
Research why existing technology uses these materials and see if you can apply them in your design
~Andrew M, Engineering Consultant, Reading, England
Be sure to purchase from reliable suppliers. DO NOT BUY CHINESE
~Engineer, Jenks, OK
Please be conservative in use, resources are limited.
~Satyendra Kumar A, Engineering Consultant, Vadodara, India
Is there any advice you want to share with users to help them avoid common errors in selection or usage of nonferrous metals and alloys?
6 answers
Do your homework on the properties of the material that you have selected for your project. Poor selection could make your product fail.
~Andrew M, Engineering Consultant, Reading, England
People are normally not preferring aluminium against copper. Always use aluminium if possible, it is is recyclable.
~Satyendra Kumar A, Engineering Consultant, Vadodara, India
The more you understand the application, the better your parameters of selection will be.
~Quality Control/ Welding Metallurgist, Independence, MO
Be careful to the specification of metals and check it with the standard codes.
~Nalini Mohanty, Mecahnical engineer in Manufacutring sector ., Mumbai, India
For bearing uses be sure the alloy is hard enough.
~Dave H, Engineer, South Bend, IN
Don't re-invent the wheel
~President, Solon, OH
